Rescue operations are underway after nearly 1,000 hikers were stranded on the slopes of Mount Everest. Over the weekend, an unexpected bout of heavy snowfall swept through the region.
Officials said the snow began falling heavily across parts of Tibet and the Everest region on Friday, cutting off access to popular high-altitude trekking routes and trapping hundreds of hikers, many of them foreign tourists. The stranded individuals are believed to be located at altitudes exceeding 16,000 feet, where exposure to extreme cold and low oxygen levels can quickly become life-threatening.
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Video circulated by local media and shared widely on social platforms shows long lines of hikers trudging through knee-deep snow in the Himalayan terrain, some wearing emergency thermal blankets. Others appeared to be assisted by guides and porters as they attempted to descend to lower elevations.
Search and rescue operations underway
Authorities in Tibet and Nepal say they have deployed search and rescue teams, many of whom are working alongside local villagers familiar with the treacherous mountain landscape. The BBC reported that hundreds of volunteers and professional rescuers are helping to clear snow-blocked paths and deliver essential supplies, including food, blankets and medical aid.
Medical teams on standby in base camps are reportedly treating cases of altitude sickness and hypothermia, while helicopters have been mobilized where weather conditions permit. Poor visibility and continued snowfall have hampered aerial rescues, with operations paused intermittently due to dangerous flying conditions.
Unusual weather patterns
Experts have linked the unusual weather patterns to broader climatic instability in the region. In recent days, Nepal has also experienced heavy monsoon rains, which triggered multiple landslides and caused damage to rural communities.
Meanwhile, across the border in China, Typhoon Matmo made landfall earlier in the week, forcing the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents and compounding the challenges facing emergency responders.
October is typically considered part of the autumn trekking season in the Himalayas, a popular time for climbers due to relatively stable weather. However, meteorologists say that the region has become increasingly unpredictable in recent years, with sudden snowfalls and storms disrupting even well-planned expeditions.
